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I have been looking for information on how to put on the dogi in a correct manner. I remember reading somewhere on the web that in the old days the dogi was put on in a certain way, so that they always would be ready for battle. But I can't seem to find the website anymore. I hope some you can help me! And if there is a more complete "list" of clothing/getting ready etiquette, I would be most interested

This is from memory, which isn't as good as it used to be, so don't take it for gospel.

In Autumn Lightning by Dave Lowry I believe he mentions that the jacket is put on (but not tied closed), then the pants, then the belt. He also talks about how his sensei told him that when you sit to go to the bathroom to pull one leg completely out of your pants so you can move if you're attacked in there.

Bronson

"A pacifist is not really a pacifist if he is unable to make a choice between violence and non-violence. A true pacifist is able to kill or maim in the blink of an eye, but at the moment of impending destruction of the enemy he chooses non-violence."

Thanx Bronson I think this is what I slightly remember. And it does seem logical!
And the toilet-etiquette...hehe...I hope I won't have to go boomboom in the dojo anytime soon But seriously...that to makes sense...I guess, hehehe. Thanx again!

Well if you read "Angry white pyjamas" it says that a true japanese does not wear underclothes under dogi trousers. I know that there are people on this website that were on that particular course so please feel free to correct me.

Aikido doesn't work? My Aikido works, what on earth are you practicing?!

One of the ways I have seen a great many old-timers suit up seems like it's sequenced to insure that you almost always have enough clothes on to run outside in case of fire or imminent attack, while allowing for reasonable modesty.

If doing koryu or kendo, or if you just have an extra-long kendo style top, omit step four.

1. Take off shirt

2. Put on upper half of keiko gi.

3. Take off trousers (and underwear if going commando) The keiko gi top protects modesty if it is long enough.

4. Put on lower half of keiko gi and tie pants.

5. Put on obi.

6. Put on hakama, front panel first so that nature calls require minimum of undressing.

Well if you read "Angry white pyjamas" it says that a true japanese does not wear underclothes under dogi trousers. I know that there are people on this website that were on that particular course so please feel free to correct me.

I don't know if the correct term would be "true Japanese", but I do know that we laughed at guys who wore underclothes under their dogi pants. They soon stopped <grin>

It *is* much more comfortable. Try it...you'll like it

--Michael

Hiriki no yosei 3 - The kihon that makes your head ache instead of your legs

I don't know if the correct term would be "true Japanese", but I do know that we laughed at guys who wore underclothes under their dogi pants. They soon stopped <grin>

It *is* much more comfortable. Try it...you'll like it

Well, I, for one, am quite happy to wear underwear. I think it's important, especially for those of his who are not the most dexterous people. For example:

About a week ago, I was practicing suwari waza. My partner and I were facing other in seiza, serious... ready. Shinken shobu, I think is the Japanese expression. We bowed. Then as I started to do shikko... I heard a sound not unlike ripping fabric. And, lo and behold, it was ripping fabric. I had just torn a nice big hole in the crotch of my pants

Not that I'm checking but I think there is only one in the dojo (S. sensei), at least that changes in the boys room, that goes commando.

And no it is not more comfortable. Even boxer shorts have serious problems. I was doing the last of your next set of 8 techniques (tanto dori) and was stepped on (the pin is from behind). I will not describe the bruising pattern except to extol the virtues of jockey shorts.

I have had that ripping sound happen to me, Hori-san. Not the best feeling, but just train through it.

We had one woman who also went underwearless. During a hajime session her dogi pants string somehow got undone. She was senshusei so its not as if she could stop training. The instructor didn't notice until the dogi pants slipped halfway down her thigh. He stopped the hajime long enough for her to tie herself back up.

And I really feel that it is much more comfortable during long hajime sessions when the sweat is pouring out of every pore and its 37 degrees and you are dieing. The rest of the time its still comfortable, just not as noticable. I've only regretted it once and that was on some whirlwind ikkajo thing where I was uke and I don't think anything would have saved me the way my belly-flop (okay..lower than belly-flop) smash landing took me.

Of course...maybe its my Scottish heritage coming through.

Hiriki no yosei 3 - The kihon that makes your head ache instead of your legs

We had one woman who also went underwearless. During a hajime session her dogi pants string somehow got undone. She was senshusei so its not as if she could stop training. The instructor didn't notice until the dogi pants slipped halfway down her thigh. He stopped the hajime long enough for her to tie herself back up.[/QUOTE]

I can`t remember where I read it (if I read it), or who said it, but the process described by Fred above pretty much the same that I heard. The reason given was that one should never be caught in a state of total undress.

It was a few years ago now, but I have adhered to that process ever since, reversing it when changing at the end of class as we don`t have a shower at the dojo. It certainly protects modesty as we don`t have changing rooms either.

Rgds

Bryan

A difficult problem is easily solved by asking yourself the question, "Just how would the Lone Ranger handle this?"

know this is not what your looking for, but in the old days the samurai did not wear dogi pants. So back in the old old days the dress procedure was:
1. underwear
2. long robe that went down to the knees, not sure what it is called. tied with obi.
3. then hakama pants, longer or shorter depending on status and the weather.
4. then Armour.

No underwear while wearing white pants? I do hope all of you who practice this wear hakama!

I could never do this. Not out of personal insecurity. All the ladies in the dojo would be too turned on / distracted to keep practicing.

You see, there really is no ego in Aikido, Just Nathan the legend in his own trousers

Actually, Michael has a point above, the summer heat in Japan is pretty damn humid at the best of times, a lot of people in the dojo`s I trained at went commando due to the excessive sweating during keiko. I have tried it myself on occasion, it isn`t that bad, although can be uncomfortable at times . The Japanese dogi`s that I have all have quite thick trousers, and long jackets, so modesty is not compromised, it`s really down to personal preference.

Regards

Bryan

A difficult problem is easily solved by asking yourself the question, "Just how would the Lone Ranger handle this?"